THE autumn weather may be unseasonably mild but there has been a nip in the air at Shuttleworth College. The nip has come from the claws of some new residents, a group of land and rainbow crabs! During the past week the college has also taken delivery of

THE autumn weather may be unseasonably mild but there has been a nip in the air at Shuttleworth College.

The nip has come from the claws of some new residents, a group of land and rainbow crabs!

During the past week the college has also taken delivery of four very friendly rheas, a South American relative of the ostrich, and a pair of tiger salamanders.

"The rheas are very friendly and will feed from your hand," said Carl Groombridge, the college's animal centre manager.

"Eventually we hope they will breed so we will have our own flock here. The crabs are very lively and colourful and you have to be careful of their sharp claws.

"Students here will spend some time with the new animals as part of their training.